How Effective Will Wyoming’s New Odd/Even Water Use Restriction Be?

Summer is quickly approaching, and as many trees continue to bloom and temperatures rise, the desire to cool off in some water and the need to water the flowers also rise. However, with everyone wanting to do this at once, the water system can be strained.

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Typically, the water system can handle this. But for a chunk of the summer, many in the City of Wyoming and other communities around West Michigan are being asked to fulfill an unusual request on when residents are allowed to use water, taking a page from one of winter's most well-known rules: odd/even parking water usage. 

Odd/Even Outdoor Water Restrictions

From May 1st to June 15th, all residents and businesses in the City of Wyoming and the following communities:

Olive Township*, Blendon Township*, Holland Township, Georgetown Township*, Jamestown Township, Gaines Township, Byron Township, City of Hudsonville, City of Grandville, and the Western portion of the City of Kentwood

*Additional restrictions may apply; check with your municipality

will be under a new restriction that will limit unnecessary water use for activities like outdoor lawn watering, pool filling, and landscaping to take the strain off the city's water system. It isn't an outright ban on these activities; the city is asking people in these communities to use them under an Odd/Even system.

Starting May 1st, home addresses ending in odd numbers are encouraged to restrict outdoor water use to odd calendar dates, and vice versa for addresses ending in even numbers.

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This echoes the odd/even parking rules that Downtown Grand Rapids uses during the winter for snow plowing. This restriction does not apply to indoor water use, such as showering and dishwashing, though it is encouraged to conserve water where possible.

How Effective Will This Restriction Be?

It should be noted that this restriction ultimately relies on people following the honor rule. While a specific home will not be penalized for violating this restriction, the City hopes the overall threat of a water ban if water usage remains high during these times is enough to encourage people to help alleviate strain on the water system.

So, at the end of the day, it remains to be seen how effective this will be, but it isn't really asking too much to be a little more mindful of what day you schedule your sprinkler or pool filling plans for. Again, there is no fine or fee for not following this restriction, but unless you want to lose your water privileges entirely, it's in your best interest to play ball.